Is that a little black dog in Echo Park Lake? Rescuers on the way [updated]

ECHO PARK — Yes, it is. Somehow a small black dog, possibly a Chihuahua, made his/her way to a patch of grassy wetland in the northeast corner of the lake. A worker from L.A. Animal Services was called this morning and waited, with a net, until the department’s Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team was deployed.

By the early afternoon, the rescuers were stationed on opposite sides of the lake, with the small dog hidden in the wetlands, ignoring whistles and calls to come out. A raft is being readied. Stay tuned.

Update: Two members of the Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team scooped up the small black dog at about 2 pm after they maneuvered their raft into the wetlands. The dog barked a few times as onlookers clapped and cheered. The soggy dog was being transported to the North Central Animal Shelter in Lincoln Heights.

I’d like to understand why so many people have so little concern for their pets’ safety. I’m not talking about the random escape from a fenced yard or a door accidentally left open, but for those who just let their animals roam around. ( Maybe I might as well ask why there are so many abused and neglected children in the world.)

It’s clearly a puppy – and pretty cute. Unfortunately, Echo Park Lake, among other public spaces in the area, is used as a dog dumping ground. I was there one day when someone pulled up their car, opened the door and tossed two Chihuhua puppies onto the grass, then took off. Luckily, a lot of folks were there and they got a hold of the pups before they could head into traffic or into the water. How hard is it, really, to find a rescue organization who will take your puppies/dogs? Unfortunately, most dumped animals wind up at kill shelters and lose their lives. If everyone had their dogs neutered, this problem would go away immediately, but if pigs had wings …

Please keep your comments civil and on topic and refrain from personal attacks. The moderator reserves the right to edit or delete any comments. The Eastsider's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy apply to comments submitted by readers. Required fields are marked *